During the 2025 racing season we have forged new working relationships with race organisers globally via our AIOCC contract, providing the WorldTour package to improve safety and logistics.
As part of this we connected with the Race Manager of the Czech Tour, Martin Kolář, who used VeloViewer to support the four day race which ran in August. Following the event, we were thrilled to hear how VeloViewer played such an integral role in the event and levelled up safety.
In our latest Q&A we go inside the Czech Tour with a view from Martin on how the WorldTour Package was used, and the benefits it brought to the race.
VV: Can you tell us your role in the Czech Tour, how you used VeloViewer in the planning of the Tour and the race itself?
Martin: I’m Martin Kolář, Race Manager of Czech Tour. Overall my agenda is widespread but VeloViewer-wise – I partially oversee route preparation and race-day safety operations.
Once the race routes are available for internal use in VeloViewer, we add Waymarkers (for potential hazards but also things like waste/feed zones, GPMs, Sprints, PPO, parking, deviation…) during recons.
Sometimes we also use Google Street View to quickly verify tricky sections before we commit to a site visit.
From time-to-time there are roadworks that should be finished within a few weeks. In this case it’s good that we can choose different levels of Waymarkers – some waymarkers are visible to everyone, including teams, media, and some are visible only to organizers, so we can remark specific spots for ourselves.
During the race I ride in the Safety Manager car a few minutes ahead of the peloton. This is where I value VeloViewer the most. VeloViewer is our live navigation and coordination tool: we mark unexpected hazards in realtime with Waymarkers in the Live App, track live locations of the peloton thanks to easily accessible estimated time gap to other VeloViewer users, and keep the convoy informed. If we strike any sudden obstacles that we need to publicly note, I can inform people behind us through radio and also by putting Waymarkers on the exact spot.
We display VeloViewer on the in-dash car screen using a Carlinkit device unit which is wired by USB. This solution is pretty handy as it saves space in the car, and we don’t need any additional iPad or similar device solely for VeloViewer. So far, Carlinkit with built-in GPS has worked very well for us; we didn’t even need to insert a SIM card into the device for better location— a mobile phone hotspot is sufficient.
Certain members of our race convoy used the single-access link to join the Live App which is great as there is no need for registration into the company account. You just click the link and you’re in. Simple as that.
VV: What difference did having VeloViewer make to the Czech Tour?
Martin: It helps to enhance route intelligence, especially during the race. Previously we combined Race Guide itineraries, GPX waypoints and daily organiser communiqués; now that we added overseeing of the Waymarkers in VeloViewer, we are able to give everyone one simple source of important information.
Even though it doesn’t reduce prep time (at least at the moment where we simultaneously work with our old tools so if anything it’s extra work), it delivers meaningful outcomes: clearer convoy awareness, more consistent communication to team directors who use VeloViewer themselves (which I believe the majority does) or the racers.
We also began using the VeloViewer to check the distance to the peloton as the estimations were really close to my measurements – another thing that makes our lives easier.
VV: How did it enhance safety in the race?
Martin: Certainly we are now able to inform everyone better thanks to the Waymarkers. When it is needed, it’s actually new dual cooperation between the usual verbal radio information, which we nowadays support with pointing out the exact position of the matter using Waymarkers in the VeloViewer Live App during the race.
As an example, even though we try to limit errors, they can happen. Suddenly we encountered an unexpected truck on the course, it was secured by moto marshals but couldn’t be moved out of the race parcour. We called it on Radio Tour and dropped a Waymarker at the exact location so the race convoy could identify the spot precisely, manage their approach to this point, and brief riders promptly. More generally, safety improves because known hazards are pre-marked (islands, sharp turns, technical descents, feed/waste zones and other race particularities), and new issues can be pinned in seconds with coordinates shared instantly to those who need to see them.
For now we share the Live App within the organising team, as police and first responders are physically co-located with us; but wider integration with external services is probably going to take place in the future.
VV: What were your favourite features?
Martin: Here is a shortlist of the features we appreciate the most:
- Live App Waymarkers (with visibility control) – Gives us the ability to surface a live hazard to the right people at the right time.
- Live App locations & Estimated Time Gap – In my testing the time gap has been approximately accurate to my measurements. It’s easily accessible within the race convoy, so we can focus on other things and quickly check the gaps when needed.
- Navigation with route profile and panel with upcoming markers (“what’s next” panel).
- Single-access link for quick onboarding across the organisation during stages.
- The connection with CarlinKit that is used to stream VeloViewer on the car built-in display.
- Google Street View for rapid desk-checks in the planning phase.
VV: How do you plan to use VeloViewer in future races?
Martin: We tested out this setup in a few cars in the convoy for the Czech Tour, we will definitely integrate that into more vehicles for the following years.
We’ll continue using VeloViewer for pre-race planning and communication. This year we tested out the car screen setup with CarlinKit in a few cars, which is just awesome. Definitely we will integrate VeloViewer with that feature into more vehicles for the following years.
We also intend to mirror the same structure for our other events, notably the Peace Race U23 (UCI Nations Cup).
Find out more about the Czech Tour here.